Deborah Hamm says she wanted to bring “a slice of New York City” with her when she moved from the Big Apple to Sarasota—but in reality, she brought the whole cake. Hamm lived in New York from 1980 until 2019, when she moved to Sarasota full time. And what’s most attention-grabbing about her remodeled condo at Alinari is the exposed concrete, the open space and the emphasis on the views—all hallmarks of urban New York design. It’s gutsy.

To achieve the look, Hamm took down walls that enclosed the main bedroom and even those that separated it from the en suite bathroom. She had ceiling tracks with curtains installed for optional privacy instead.

You could describe the look as a blend of Brutalism and farmhouse, inspired by the repurposed factories-turned-living spaces in New York City that have grown in popularity. Still, it’s less common to see such an edgy style in a condo, particularly in Sarasota.

“Clients often want a smooth, perfect finish in a coastal style with whites and blues,” says Amy Lepper of Yoder Homes, which led Hamm’s renovation. “Or they copy their up-north home with cherry-stained cabinets and warmer walnut flooring.”

The exposed concrete can be misunderstood as cold, but that’s not the ethos behind the aesthetic. “The idea is to communicate the structure and strength of the building, so you understand how it’s being held up, and drywall hides that,” says Yehuda Inbar, the principal architect and the founder of Inbar Architecture. Plus, he says, “I think drywall is boring—exposing what’s beneath is more engaging.”

Hamm bought the condo in 2008 for $900,000, and while the exact cost of the renovation remains to be determined, she’s quick to confirm it’s in the six figures. The split-floor unit is located on Alinari’s 16th and 17th floors, with views that encompass the blues of the sky and Sarasota Bay, punctuated by the purple Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall below. The project has created a continuity of space and makes the 2,500-square-foot unit feel airy and full of light.

In fact, removing the drywall and framing created 9 inches of additional space and turned a boxed-up abode into one that connects the upstairs main bedroom to a 20-foot central atrium.

“Now she can see the bay from another angle and doesn’t have to stand at the window for the view,” says Inbar. “It’s a long view of blue sky and water that feels organic, like she’s living outside.”

The floors are concrete, as well, and the kitchen, finished in smooth and seamless Caesarstone, has an organic, sandy hue. The remaining walls are white, which Hamm finds calming, while a couple of large pieces of abstract art that Hamm found at The Exchange and PoshPlum deliver a bolt of color. The light colors contrast nicely with the star of the space: her inky black grand piano.

The condo’s overhaul marks a new start for Hamm, 71, who is now a semi-retired psychiatrist and widow rekindling her love of music. Her home is directly across the street from Sarasota Orchestra, and she’s dedicating the space to the organization and its sounds by offering it up for fundraisers and events. It will serve as a plush landing pad for orchestra board members, music aficionados and musicians.

Hamm is all three. In fact, before she embarked on her career in psychiatry, she graduated from Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 1975 and yearned to be a classical pianist, but changed course and pursued medical school instead.

“The life of a musician is deeply challenging,” she says. “The life of a doctor is daunting, but it has a steady income and job security and is also fulfilling.”
While she shifted careers, Hamm continued performing at venues like the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan and still plays for her own joy. She chose a Yamaha grand piano for her Alinari space. A Steinway is still tucked away in New York.

Tying music into the new design, cable railings along the main bedroom on the second floor echo the strings of a piano and the fine cylinders of the atrium’s chandelier hang like wind chimes. Hamm also found an 18th-century music stand with a candle holder to light sheet music. Other subtle lighting choices throughout evoke the feeling of a performance space.

Being a good neighbor, Hamm’s condo is outfitted with sound-blocking insulation, so the music can flow freely. “It’s like going back to my first love,” she says. “I can help the young people do what I didn’t do and vicariously give back.”